NPF exudes confidence to win Rajya Sabha seat of Nagaland

Kohima, Jun 24 (UNI) Nagaland Peoples Front (NPF) president Shurhozelie today exuded confidence that the lone Rajya Sabha seat for Nagaland will be won by an NPF candidate.

The NPF is the major coalition partner of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN).

Talking to newspersons on the sidelines of the 22nd General Meeting of the Indian Red Cross Society, Nagaland, Mr Shurhozelie said the NPF had already issued whip to all its 26 Legislators on the day of filing of nomination by NPF Rajya Sabha candidate Khekiho Zhimomi.

''I am sure that every Legislator of our coalition will vote for our own candidate,'' he said.

On the other alliance partners of the DAN - the BJP, NCP and Independents - he said the BJP and NCP had already issued whips to their respective parties to vote for the DAN consensus candidate Mr Khekiho and the six Independent members in the DAN would also support the DAN candidate.

Mr Shurhozelie also said if any member of any political party would cross the floor or abstain from voting, he would be charged under Anti-Defection Law and disqualified from the Assembly.

State Agriculture Minister Dr Chumben Murry, who is from the NCP, also confirmed that his party had issued whip, but did not divulge details of the whip.

The election for the lone Rajya Sabha seat of Nagaland will be held on June 26, where the DAN candidate Khekiho will have a direct contest with Congress candidate Kewekhape Therie.

In the ruling DAN, the NPF has a strength of 26 members, NCP two, BJP two and Independent six, while in the Opposition Congress has 23 members.

The Assembly also had one neutral Independent member, who has so far not declared to take the side of the DAN or the Congress.